Recipe Finder: Italian and French

See what happens when we take a break from great Giovanni's recipes? The fractions go haywire! We hope by now you've figured out that Luby's Carrot Cake calls for "two-and-one-half cups" flour, not "twenty-one-minus-two cups," and so on.

Gloria Cerrito Braswell has been kind enough to again sate the appetites and memories of Giovanni's fans. And we have another request for her: Jerry Farley would love Giovanni's Veal Parmesan recipe.

Entrecôte Sauté au Poivre, or Sauteed Strip Loin in Pepper and Cognac Sauce, requested by Robert Lanier, teaches us at least one new word. "Entrecôte" means "between the ribs" in French — specifically between the 9th and 11th ribs, a rare steak in more ways than doneness.

Josie Fleming wanted the Italian Spinach recipe from the old Cerrito's. Canned spinach may be a surprise, but Braswell explains:

"Cerrito's at Second and Washington opened in 1957 and moved in 1963 to Cleveland Street. During that time period, only canned spinach was available unless you grew it. However, the texture of canned spinach is quite tasty."